Houthis raid UN premises in Yemen, detain at least 11 personnel

Yemen's Houthis raided United Nations offices in the capital Sanaa on Sunday and detained at least 11 U.N. personnel. 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Houthis forcibly entered World Food Programme premises, seized U.N. property and attempted to enter other U.N. offices in the capital.

The raid followed an Israeli strike on Sanaa that killed the prime minister of Yemen's Houthi-run government and several other ministers, according to Reuters.

In a statement, Guterres condemned the “arbitrary detentions” of the personnel and called for their “immediate and unconditional” release.

“I strongly condemn the arbitrary detentions on 31 August of at least 11 United Nations personnel by the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen in areas under their control. I further condemn the forced entry into the premises of the World Food Programme, the seizure of UN property, and attempts to enter other UN premises in Sana’a,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “I strongly reiterate my demand for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained today, as well as all other personnel from the United Nations, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions who have been arbitrarily detained since June 2024 and those held since 2021 and 2023. The continued arbitrary detention of all such persons is intolerable. The personnel of the UN and its partners must never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties for the UN. The safety and security of UN personnel and property as well as the inviolability of UN premises must be guaranteed at all times. The United Nations will continue to work tirelessly to secure the safe and immediate release of all arbitrarily detained individuals. The United Nations and its partners will continue to support the people of Yemen and their aspirations for a just and lasting peace.”